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PODCAST

Automotive Field Theory

Automotive Field Theory explores the forces that shape automotive repair, including the ones measured with a meter or oscilloscope and the ones that cannot be found on a wiring diagram. Hosted by automotive diagnostic specialist, shop manager, and instructor Matt Fanslow, the podcast begins in the automotive aftermarket but rarely stays inside its traditional boundaries. Diagnostics, electricity, technology, leadership, psychology, economics, game theory, history, music, movies, family, and human

leisure automotive

All Episodes

49:24

From Bad Grounds to Bricked Modules: Real-World...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/10/07

Watch Full Video EpisodeRecorded live at ASTA 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina, Matt Fanslow sits down with Tim Iezzi, Ira Waldman, and Chris Farley for a conversation about diagnostic training, module programming, and the realities of fixing cars.The group shares wrong turns, software headaches, and those uncomfortable moments when a vehicle drove into the bay but suddenly won’t start. They discuss why effective training includes the mistakes along with the successful repair, and why a repeatable

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17:03

Cultivating Mechanical Aptitude in the AI Age [E256]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/09/30

Watch Full Video EpisodeWhat if the same technology we blame for weakening mechanical aptitude could help rebuild it?In this episode of Automotive Field Theory, Matt considers whether YouTube, internet access, and large language models could help address the automotive industry’s skill gap. Younger generations may be less likely to grow up around parents, grandparents, or neighbors who routinely repair cars, appliances, and homes—but they now have immediate access to demonstrations, explanations,

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33:18

Mailbag: Principles and Practices of Oscilloscope...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/09/23

Watch Full Video EpisodeOscilloscopes are becoming more powerful, accessible, and common in repair shops—but choosing the right scope is only part of the equation. You also need to understand how your particular scope captures, stores, and displays its data.Matt Fanslow answers listener questions about automotive oscilloscopes, including the new eight-channel PicoScope, how many channels a shop actually needs, and whether beginners should start with an inexpensive scope or jump directly into a more

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36:58

Technician Pay, Profit Sharing, and Trust [E254]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/09/16

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodePercentages Don’t Pay BillsA prospective hire wants a meaningful increase in income. Riverside Automotive’s base wage would already beat what he currently earns, and the shop’s profit-sharing program could take him beyond his stated goal. Still, he struggles to trust the opportunity.Is the problem the compensation plan, the way it is being explained, or the uncertainty created by years of disappointing pay systems?In this

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28:27

How to Start a Career in Auto Repair [E253]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/09/09

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeA high school student considering a career in the skilled trades recently asked Matt for advice about entering the automotive repair profession. Should someone begin with a college or technical program, or find a shop willing to train them?In this episode, Matt explains why the answer depends partly on the experience a person already brings with them. Many newcomers have had little exposure to tools, machinery, or basic repair

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29:41

It’s Never Too Late to Do the Right Thing: Lessons...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/09/02

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeA monologue from Jelly Roll prompted a simple but powerful idea: It is never too late to do the right thing.That does not mean “the right thing” is always obvious. People can look at the same situation from different perspectives, reach different conclusions, and each possess part of the truth. The challenge is remembering that the client, employee, employer, or competitor across from us is a human being before they are a

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27:40

Reflecting on STX 2026 [E251]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/08/26

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeMatt Fanslow returns from WORLDPAC’s STX 2026 with a greater appreciation for everything required to make a major training event happen, especially the hands-on classes. Vehicles, tools, simulators, soldering stations, ventilation systems, safety requirements, instructors, support personnel, and countless late nights all have to come together before an attendee ever walks into the room.He also challenges a persistent myth

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47:08

The Ethics of a Diagnosis: Navigating System...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/08/19

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeFor episode 250, Matt is joined by his wife, Danielle Fanslow, MSW, LGSW, LADCS, for a conversation about diagnostics...just not entirely the automotive kind.Danielle works in behavioral health, mental health, and substance use treatment. Matt diagnoses cars. On the surface, those worlds seem pretty far apart, but both require professionals to gather incomplete information, recognize patterns, separate symptoms from causes,

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20:40

Does Experience Give You Permission to Ignore Service...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/08/12

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeHow much freedom should an automotive professional have to deviate from published service information?In this episode of Automotive Field Theory, Matt Fanslow digs into that question after a recent discussion involving ADAS procedures and Ford brake caliper fasteners that service information specifically instructs technicians to remove and discard.The debate isn't really about one set of bolts.It's about the level of

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18:37

Automotive Field Theory: Rebranding the Podcast [E248]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/08/05

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeDiagnosing the Aftermarket Becomes Automotive Field TheoryThings have changed.After years as Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z, the podcast has a new name: Automotive Field Theory.In this episode, Matt explains why the original title was chosen, why it eventually became a problem, and how the new name better represents both the podcast and the range of subjects explored on it.The original name was intended to leave the show

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25:34

Why You Can't Motivate Someone Into Training [E247]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/07/29

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeWhy are some automotive repair specialists resistant to attending training, particularly when it takes place after work or on weekends?The easy explanation is that they are lazy, unmotivated, or unwilling to invest in themselves. Matt argues that this explanation may also be incomplete.In this episode, Matt examines training through the lens of incentives, career development, and systems thinking. A specialist who spends

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20:58

The Power of Inspiration: From the Mat to the Shop...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/07/22

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeAre We Paying Attention to Inspiration?Ben Askren was already known for an accomplished wrestling career, MMA championships, and one of the most replayed knockouts in UFC history. After a life-threatening illness, severe physical decline, and a double-lung transplant, simply surviving would have been remarkable.Instead, Askren worked his way back onto a wrestling mat.In this episode, Matt reflects on Askren’s return to

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22:46

The Most Controversial Tool in Automotive Electrical...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/07/15

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodePowered circuit testers tend to produce strong opinions. Some specialists consider them indispensable time-savers. Others see them as dangerous tools that make it far too easy to damage a circuit.In this episode, Matt examines where tools such as the Power Probe, Autel powered circuit tester, and metered test lights fit into an automotive diagnostic process. The ability to apply power or ground can be dangerous without an

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36:36

Who Should Pay for Auto Repair Tools? Shop Owner or...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/07/08

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode, Matt digs into a question that sits underneath a lot of shop economics, technician frustration, and industry culture: who should be responsible for buying the tools and equipment required to do the work a shop advertises?The discussion starts with a real-world example involving a dealership service department that did not have a connector depinning tool available, leaving a mechanical or technical specialist

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30:33

The Danger of Tunnel Vision in Automotive...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/07/01

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeA Dodge Durango came into the shop for a second opinion after being suspected of needing a transmission. The symptoms sounded convincing at first: harsh shifts, apparent slipping, no diagnostic trouble codes, and a vehicle that felt completely wrong on the road. But the actual problem was much simpler. The Durango was stuck in four-low. Once shifted properly through neutral, the harsh shifting, driveline bind, and “slipping”

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31:16

7.3L Power Stroke ICP Sensor Failure and the AI Skill...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/06/24

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode of Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z, Matt Fanslow starts with a case study on a 2000 Ford Excursion with a 7.3L Power Stroke that came in with a severe lack of power. What began as a fuel delivery problem turned into a more interesting diagnostic puzzle involving a P1280 injection control pressure sensor code, an aftermarket ICP sensor, and a fault that appeared to happen not during cranking or running, but

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28:53

The Hidden Game Running Your Auto Repair Shop: When...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/06/17

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeMatt Fanslow continues his exploration of game theory by examining the difference between a shop’s official game and its shadow game.The official game is what ownership and management say the shop values: quality work, safety, fairness, employee support, customer care, and doing things the right way.The shadow game is what the shop’s systems, incentives, habits, exceptions, and unwritten rules actually reward.Those two games

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22:15

Why Customers Struggle to Trust Auto Repair [E240]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/06/10

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode, Matt Fanslow continues the conversation around game theory and economics in the automotive repair industry, focusing on one of the biggest invisible forces affecting customer trust: information asymmetry.Auto repair is a credence good service, meaning most customers cannot fully judge the quality of the work before, during, or even after the repair. A grinding brake noise may disappear after a $200 backyard

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26:29

From Bogeys to Blown Fuses: Navigating Self-Doubt [E239]

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/06/03

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode, Matt starts on the golf course and ends up right back in the service bay, because apparently, even a decent round of golf can turn into a cognitive psychology lesson.After shooting a personally strong nine-hole score, Matt catches himself doing what many technical and mechanical specialists do every day: ignoring the accomplishment and obsessing over the shots, tests, tools, or decisions that could have been

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43:11

Game Theory for Auto Repair Shops: Pricing,...

Automotive Field Theory ·

2026/05/27

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology, and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode, Matt begins laying the groundwork for a larger discussion on game theory and how it applies far beyond poker tables, chessboards, casinos, or movie references. What starts with John von Neumann, poker strategy, bluffing, and imperfect information quickly becomes a broader conversation about how people, businesses, customers, competitors, and coworkers interact.Matt explains that “games,” in the game theory

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